Arizona, Arizona, Arizona!!!

SO I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, just took a break from life to visit the Valley of the Sun. Oh how I have missed that place. I don't know what it is but I dearly love Arizona. Perhaps it's the many great memories I have of growing up there, or the great friends and family that still live there, or perhaps the scorching sun and desert critters that roam the streets. I believe it's a combination of all those things.
We, being me, Janessa, and the three amigos, left last Wednesday, stayed the night in Vegas then completed the trip on Thursday. We spent a week enjoying non-stop playing and fun then headed back Wednesday and did a straight shot. We were supposed to go back on Tuesday but were having too much fun so extended. Had our dear husband/father not been waiting at home for us we probably would've stayed even longer. Junior was such a champ to let us go even though he was stuck at home alone and had to go to work everyday. Next time he's definitely going to have to come along with us.
Here's a recap of our trip.
Wednesday:
Headed out at about 2 pm. My sister and I knew we were in for an adventure traveling with three young kids but oh how I wished at times that I had no scruples. If I didn't I'd give them a heavy sedative and never feel guilty in the slightest. Aside from Kalei being very vocal about her dislike for her carseat and the boys constantly wanting to be entertained the trip was relatively uneventful. Or so I thought until we arrived in Vegas and I went to pay for the hotel. It soon became obvious that I left my wallet perched on a toilet clear back in Beaver, UT. Actually it's so in the middle of nowhere it wasn't even part of Beaver. Now if you know me at all this doesn't surprise you in the slightest because I have a horrible knack for leaving things behind, namely my wallet (luckily I've yet to leave my children behind, at least not too far behind). Fortunately an honest person turned the wallet in and the employees at the Cheveron kindly agreed to use the cash in my wallet to overnight it to Brittany's house. Well at the end of the day we collapsed in our room with Kalei more exahusted and defeated with life then she's ever been and me hoping and praying that my wallet would actually make it.
Apparently cars give Brayden drool issues, this picture does no justice

Maybe if I cover my head, we'll get there faster

If only you know how exhausted this poor girl was

So glad to be out of the car and relaxing


Thursday:
Awoke at about 7:30 at bagels and fruit for breakfast while enjoying some good old kids cartoons. Headed out to the pools about 9 and swam until 10:30ish. I thought we were doing so good and were right on track to be on the road by 11. I had just finished loading the car when I looked down at my hand and realized my wedding ring was gone. Great, wonderful, and fabulous. I thought I had already lost the most important thing on the trip but now one of the few possesions I plan on keeping my entire life was gone as well. We frantically searched through EVERYTHING, I'm sure housekeeping conjured up all sorts of possible scenarios as to what would cause the room to look like a bomb went off, searched the pools and surrounding areas, car NOTHING! Just as I was about to give up hope Janessa reached in her backpack for something and sure enough her hand landed on my ring. I had reached in to put a pen away and it had caught on the netting and slipped off. An hour later then planned we were finally on the road and going. Made pretty good time until we reached Kingman, in fact only stopped breifly to see the Hoover Dam and continued on. I called Brittany to let her know we'd be there around 5:30ish. We stopped for gas and the kids insisted/refused to use the bathroom. 5 minutes later they both needed to go NOW, NOW, NOW. We pulled over they did their business and Kalei continued to sleep through all these stops. About 15 minutes back on the road she woke up SCREAMING and would not be appeased by anything. We finally stopped in the beautiful town of Wikiup. Kalei had her meal while the boys explored the single building in town and examined a fascinating, rare plant known as a cactus. Once again we were on the road hopeully for the home stretch. We got to Wickenburg and the boys were suddenly famished and should I make them wait the hour to our destination they would wither away. We stopped, they took two bites of pizza and were off and running saying they were full. I learned a new bit of kid lingo. "We're starving" translates to "We're sick and tired of being in this car and know if we claim hunger we can get out and play." Finally at 8 we rolled up to Brittany's the boys got a few wiggles out and were off to bed. After they were settled in I let Brittany do what she does best and I CHOPPED my hair. I'm still getting used to having short hair but love that I actually have some body to my hair. Best of all I no longer have spit-up, boogers, suckers, fingers, toys and who knows what else constantly entangeled in my hair (again, forgot to get pictures, I sent some via phone to Junior I'll have to send those to the computer).
Pool Time

Tavita LOVES hot tubs, even though it was pushing 100 degrees, he ditched the nice tepid pool water and went to boil himself. Gets so mad I never let him spend more then 5 minutes in there.

How would you like to do this everyday for work. They were so high up there they looked 1/2 inch high. No sides to the platfrom, nothing.

And to get to that platform they climb up steps that lined this arch. You can't see it but that platform is at the peak of that arch. Soon we'll all appreciate their hard work as they are building a road over Hoover dam so we no longer have to drive through it.

However, my little adventures would be sad to miss out on the view, they thought the place was soo cool and insisted we stop. Tavita was too worried about finding a bathroom to smile for the picture.

Friday
We took a lazy morning trying to recover from our trip. My wallet arrived $42 later (they sent it EXTREMELY urgent through UPS) can't complain too much because it was very nice of them to take the time to mail it. Headed over to my aunt and uncle's house for some pool time. I have always loved going over there it's always so calm and relaxed. It didn't take long before the Rob Orme's became one of my boys faovrite places either. As many of you know my dad and Uncle Rob look VERY much alike. Tavita was in the side room watching tv when my uncle walked in the door to work. He stopped in the kitchen to talk to us and Tavita came tearing out of the room making a beeline for my uncle. He got within inches when he skidded to a stop, stared up at him, got a confused/disappointed look on his face and walked back into the room. He mumbled something in Tavitaese, a language which Brayden somehow magically understands, so Brayden came out of the room for a look then went back in to inform Tavita that indeed that was not Grandpa. They eventually warmed up to Rob and Tavita deemd him "Uncle Papa"
After hanging out with my cousins for a bit we headed back to Brittany's where we had a joyus reunion with April and her husband Cameron. The boys started in on Rockband downstairs, while us girls hung out upstairs. Brittany did April's hair and we put together a killer birthday cake for Brittany's daughter's 1st birthday while we talked and reminced. It was so good to have the three of us back together again, it had been years since the last time we were all in the same room. Oh the fun that could be had if we were living in the same place. The added bonus, our husbands all seem to tolerate eachother quite well. I put a movie on for the boys in their bedroom so they didn't feel like they were missing out on all the fun. I figured the movie would eventually end and they'd collapse and fall asleep. We got a great kick out of watching the boys and Brittany's mom jam out. Sue was a total crack up bouncing around while she played the guitar and singing at the top of her lungs. The fact she woke up sore the next morning made it all that much more enjoyable. Well we talked and laughed until about 1 am and finally headed up to bed. You could imagine my shock when I went in to check on my boys and I found Tavita standing up, wide awake in his crib still watching the movie that had apparently been playing over and over. I turned it off and he threw himself down to protest but he never got past a second whine before he was dead asleep.
Sorry I was completely negiligent and didn't take a single picture.
Saturday, or what a day.
We were busy, busy, busy. We started the morning getting ready for Macey's birthday party. During the preparations Kalei decided to start rolling over. Of course I had to pause for a photo op. We partied hardy until about 3:30. Hurried and cleaned ourselves up, Janessa took to boys back to Uncle Papa's for another swim while Brittany and I headed out to April's baby shower. Not only was it a fun shower (way to go Erin) but it was also a lot of fun seeing friends from high school and even junior high days. We were there until about 7 then hurried home to meet up with our friends (who are also brothers) Ernest and Jonathan. Was nice to catch up and see their little families.
I think I can, I think I can...

Sucess!!!

Some of our Junior High gang

Jillian, Kristin, April, me, Shelbi
Our classic squishy face picture. Don't know that we'll ever grow out of it

Sunday
Went back to visit the good old Edgewood ward. Was so good to see old friends and many of the leaders that helped me and taught me so much during those young, impressionable years. Went back to Uncle Papa's where he became one of my boys' idols. First he took them on an "awesome", which became "amazing" the 2nd time Brayden told the story, ride in his renovated cherry red Corvette ('58???). He then took them scoripion hunting and came back with quite a catch. Brayden wanted to take them home and keep them as pets. Luckily Uncle Rob convinced him it'd be way more fun to dump them on the driveway at once and stomp on them all. Tavita jumped in on the action wearing nothing but sandals and a pull-up. The scoripions were flying all over the place while they danced on them but they both remained unscathed.
Goin on a ride

Check out their catch

Please can they be our pets mom???

You can't tell in this picture but the scorpions were flying everywhere

Bridget's got some serious talent. Let's all go smash some pumpkins!

Monday
Met up with some of my closest friends. I've known these girls since the 3rd grade and oh the things we've seen and done together. From sleepovers to girls camps to college roomates. Cooties to crushes to 1st kisses to marraige. Trying to help each other understand simple multiplication to complex calculus (wait did any of us go that far???. We used to crank call, tp, SMACK attack (long story), stealing Christmas decorations (we didn't keep them and they were all in a location where they could easily be returned, I guess it wasn't stealing so much as redecorating a certain home with their neighbors decorations so they were stuck with the job of explaining and returning the goods) and now we're sharing tips on how to raise good upstanding citizens (tip one, don't follow in your mother's footsteps!) We've seen eachother through elementary, junior high, high school, college, weddings and now kids. It was crazy to think back on those days as we were surrounded by our 13, yes 13 kids.
That evening we joined back with Brittany and Benton and headed over to our good friend Fetu's house for a BBQ. This is the guy that is responsible for introducing Junior and I so I guess I owe him quite a bit. It was great catching up with him and meeting his cute, new wife. Sadly I thought I left my camera at home but really it was just buried deep in my diaper bag, nonetheless I didn't get a picture.
Stayed up late that night taking some killer pictures with Photoboth with Brittany. You seriously need to send me some of those.
The two baldies (Catherine and Staci's sons) watching some tv. It's funny how if your chubby and bald you can look so much alike even if your facial features are completely different!

Brayden bought these with his tickets and loved them. Sadly we didn't realize til some damage was done that his walking around with them in his mouth petrified some of the kids. Sorry to those of you whose children may be having nightmares!

Peek-a-boo!

Man we look so grown-up with all these kids surrounding us!

Catherine, Me, Staci, Crystal, Brittany, Kylee and too many kids to take the time to name!
Tuesday
We began the journey back home. Oh wait, this was the day we were supposed to go but I wasn't ready to leave all the fun yet. Went to a splash pad with Brittany and Anna. Apparently Anna's 2 year-old daughter Millie and I are best friends from a previous life. We then headed over to Uncle Papa's (The boys begged to go there all day everyday and even though Monday was the only day we missed going there it wasn't enough for them)for a final swim and visit. That night went over to Catherine's for a final night of haning out and having fun. Got back to Brittany's and Amy Hamblin came over, yet another fine time to catch up. Sadly like much of this trip I didn't get a picture.
Roadtrips and the adventures they bring must be so miserable for babies. While your brothers are having a blast doing this,

You're stuck doing this!

Reason boys like Arizona=they got to play in water EVERYDAY both day and night!


Wednesday
Got up early and were on the road by 7:30 an hour and half later then we wanted but I figured it's better to be well rested then on the road early. The drive back went much better then down. Kalei seemed to be resigned to the fact that she was stuck in the car seat wether she liked it or not. Didn't truly loose composure except for the last 1/2 hour or so. Made a few stops along the way to feed Kalei while the boys played on fastfood playgrounds and in parks. Only downfall of the trip was some ridiculous construction outside of Kanab. There was no warning it was coming all the sudden you're stuck in the thick of construction going 10mph through thick tar-covered gravel with rocks flying everywhere. It was on both lanes and trucks and tractors were drivng around as if there were no cars around. Motorcycles were stalling out from rocks getting in their gears and cars were all over the side of the road examining the damage. We spent a good part of the trip sounding like a popcorn popper while the rocks kicked out from the wheel well. We got home to find tar splattered all over the car, tires and undercarriage. Thank-you UDOT!
All in all it was a great trip. So good to see family and friends and gave us one final HOT week to prepare us to take on the upcoming cold.